Grealish award ‘just the start’ for Everton winger

Everton boss David Moyes says Jack Grealish’s Premier League’s Player of the Month award for August is “just the start” for the winger.

The England international, who turned 30 on Wednesday, has made an instant impact with the Toffees since joining on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

Grealish has registered four assists from two league starts – wins over Brighton and Wolves – after coming on as a substitute in Everton’s season opener at Leeds.

That is two assists more than any other player three games into the new Premier League season.

“I’m really pleased for him. You’d have to say it’s a big privilege to be given that accolade and I’m pleased for him because everybody knows he’s back again,” Moyes told a news conference.

“It’s nothing down to me, it’s down to Jack Grealish. He’s looked after himself and worked incredibly hard.

“He’s come back with the right mindset to produce and he has produced for us. He’s made a big difference. It’s just the start for Jack.”

After making his Premier League debut for Aston Villa in May 2014, Grealish has now made 193 appearances in the competition and won the title three times with Manchester City.

Before joining Everton, he had provided two assists in the same Premier League game only twice before.

Grealish is the first Everton player to record multiple assists in consecutive Premier League matches and has the chance to be the first to do so in three when the Toffees host his former club Villa on Saturday at 15:00 BST.

He topped an eight-man shortlist after a public vote combined with those of a panel of football experts.

Moyes said it was a “big motivation” for Grealish to break back into the England team before next summer’s World Cup and his performances in the early part of the season have “put a marker down”.

“I don’t pick the England team and I’m glad I don’t because there’s so many good players,” added the Everton boss.

Life at Everton couldn’t be much better for Grealish. After admitting he fell out of love with football, he’s begun a new romance with the Toffees.

The feeling is clearly mutual. Everton would be open to signing him permanently when his loan ends and believe his price tag could drop considerably.

Manchester City have a rough value of £50m but this is unlikely to be the real cost come next summer.

By then the midfielder would be almost 31 and have just a year left on his deal.

The feeling around Blues bosses is they can negotiate a low figure and hang on to their newest hero if he continues to impress.

It’s felt Grealish only had eyes for Everton early on in the transfer window, even when Moyes initially told him he would have to start on the bench.